Case with securable closure and method

ABSTRACT

A case has a body defining an accommodation such as may be sized to accept a squat cylindrical object such as a magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, a DVD or such like object. The case may include a locking mechanism, and that locking mechanism may be a combination locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may permit axial access to the accommodation, or it may permit radial access to the accommodation. The accommodation may lie in whole or in part between relatively movable members of the locking mechanism.

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 120 on thebasis of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/970,845, filedOct. 22, 2010, (for issue Jun. 28, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,966,850),itself a continuation claiming the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/513,539 filed Oct. 24, 2003, the specifications ofeach of those applications being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to preventing unauthorised access to fixedmedia and the content contained thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It may be desirable to be able to lock an object within a casing, wherethe casing itself defines the enclosure cavity, and also forms, orco-operates in, the locking mechanism.

For example, in some instances, information may be stored in a number ofdigital different formats of digital storage media, such as CD-ROM,CD-R, DVD or other fixed media such as a minidisk, a “smart card” or aMemory Stick™. The security of the information stored on such media maybe of concern to personal and business users. Security may be providedby encrypting the content before writing to a disk or other fixedmedium. However, this may be time consuming and difficult for someusers. In addition, encryption may require the use of a computer toaccess the information on the chosen storage medium, thereby limitingthe number of applications and the user base. Another solution involvesa hardware lock such as a “bicycle” type lock proposed by LockManufacturing Company, California, USA. This lock includes a cable whichis passed through an opening of a jewel case and the center of the diskto secure one or more disks to a workstation. However, this type of lockmay require a key, which may be lost or mislaid, and may benon-portable, as it may typically be attached to an object that isgenerally not readily moveable, or one whose removal might tend toattract notice, such as a workstation. Also, this kind of lock may bedefeated with bolt cutters or other tools without harming the disk orits content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the invention there is an enclosure assembly having abody defining an accommodation for an object, the assembly including alocking mechanism operable to unlock according to a combination, and atleast a portion of the accommodation is enclosed within the lockingmechanism.

In a feature of that aspect of the invention, the accommodation is diskshaped. In another feature, the accommodation has a radius and an axialdepth, and the radius is at least 3 times as great as the axial depth.In a further feature, the assembly is operable to permit predominantlyaxial removal of objects from the accommodation. In a yet furtherfeature, the assembly is operable to permit radial removal of objectstherein. In another feature, the body includes a graspable rotor memberand a graspable stator member, and at least a portion of theaccommodation lies between the rotor member and the stator member. Instill another feature, the locking mechanism includes at least onecircumferentially movable annular ring, and at least a portion of theaccommodation lies radially inward of the annular ring. In a stillfurther feature, the assembly includes a carrier having theaccommodation formed therein. The carrier is mounted within a casing.The carrier has a first port. The casing has a second port. The carrieris rotatably movable within the casing to align the ports to give accessto the accommodation. In a still yet further feature the assemblyincludes an ejector operable to urge objects out of the accommodation.In still another feature, the locking mechanism is adjustable to permita change of the combination.

In another aspect of the invention, there is an enclosure assembly for adisk shaped object. The enclosure assembly has an accommodation thereinhaving a radius and a through thickness, the radius and throughthickness having an aspect ratio of greater than 10:1. The accommodationhas a movable member operable to govern access to the accommodation. Themovable member is movable between a first position yielding access toaccommodation, and a second position obstructing access to theaccommodation. The assembly includes a locking apparatus operable tosecure the movable member in the second position. The locking apparatusis a manually operable apparatus releasable according to a combination,and at least a portion of the accommodation lies within at least aportion of the locking apparatus.

In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention, the assemblyincludes a movable central boss member. In another feature, the centralboss member is axially retractable. In still another feature, theassembly is operable to permit predominantly axial removal of objectsfrom the accommodation. In still yet another feature, the assembly isoperable to permit radial removal of objects therein. In a furtherfeature, the body includes a graspable rotor member and a graspablestator member, and at least a portion of the accommodation lies betweenthe rotor member and the stator member. In another feature the lockingmechanism includes at least one circumferentially movable annular ring,and at least a portion of the accommodation lies radially inward of theannular ring. In still another feature, the assembly includes a carrierhaving the accommodation formed therein. The carrier is mounted within acasing. The carrier has a first port. The casing has a second port, andthe carrier is rotatably movable within the casing to align the ports togive access to the accommodation. In still another feature, the assemblyincludes an ejector operable to urge objects out of the accommodation.

In another aspect of the invention there is a locking means for securingfixed media. The locking means includes a combination-style lockoperable between a locked position and an unlocked position byperforming a sequence of operations.

In another aspect of the invention, a locking means for securing a diskis provided, the locking means includes a combination-style lockengaging the aperture of the disk, and the combination-style lock isoperable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lockmay be unlocked following a sequence of operations such as inputting asuitable combination code. In another aspect of the invention, thecombination-style locking means is implemented between the aperture ofthe disk and an edge of the disk, and operable between a locked positionand an unlocked position. In yet another aspect of the invention, acombination-style locking means is implemented peripherally of the disk.In even yet another aspect of the invention, the combination-stylelocking means is implemented between a section of an edge of the diskand the surface of the disk, in a clamp like manner, such that arms ofthe clamp are operable between a locked position and an unlockedposition.

In even yet another aspect of the invention, the combination-stylelocking means is implemented with the fixed media in a clamp likemanner, such that the arms of the clamp are operable between a lockedposition and an unlocked position. Alternatively, the fixed media issecured by a combination-style locking means implemented in a clam-shellmanner and operable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles of the invention may better be understood with referenceto the accompanying Figures provided by way of illustration of anexemplary embodiment, or embodiments, incorporating principles andaspects of the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diametral cross-section of the closure apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a sectional view, looking downward, of a member of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 b is a top view of a member for co-operation with the member ofFIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3 c is a conceptual illustration of tooth positioning of an upperlocking array and a lower locking array as aligned to permitdisengagement of locking parts;

FIG. 3 d is a conceptual illustration of tooth positioning of the upperand lower locking arrays of FIG. 3 c as misaligned in a position toresist disengagement of locking parts;

FIG. 4 is a scab portion of a diametral section of an alternate closureapparatus to that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 a is a diametral section of an alternate apparatus to that ofFIG. 2 or FIG. 4 in an unlocked position;

FIG. 5 b is a diametral section of the apparatus of FIG. 5 a in a lockedposition;

FIG. 6 a shows a top view of an alternate closure apparatus to that ofFIG. 1 in a first position;

FIG. 6 b shows the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 a in a second position;

FIG. 6 c is a side view of the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 a, as opened;

FIG. 6 d shows half a diametral cross-section of the closure apparatusof FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 6 e shows a detail of the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 d in a firstcondition;

FIG. 6 f shows a detail of the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 d in a secondcondition;

FIG. 6 g shows a detail of the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 d in a thirdcondition;

FIG. 6 h shows a detail of the closure apparatus of FIG. 6 d in a fourthcondition;

FIG. 7 a shows a view on arrows ‘7 a-7 a’ of FIG. 7 b, showing a planview looking downward of half of a casing shell of the closure apparatusof FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 7 b shows half a cross-section of a casing shell of the closureapparatus of FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 8 a shows a peripheral wall casing member of the closure apparatusof FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 8 b shows a partially sectioned side view of the peripheral wallcasing member of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 8 c shows a half sectional view showing the relationship of thecasing shell halves of FIGS. 7 a and 7 b and the peripheral wall memberof FIG. 8 a as assembled together, without an internal carrier;

FIG. 9 a shows a carrier member of the apparatus of FIG. 6 a as seenfrom above, with the location of an internal biasing member shown insolid lines in an ‘eject’ position;

FIG. 9 b shows a side view of the carrier member of FIG. 9 a;

FIG. 9 c shows the carrier member of FIG. 9 a in a closed and filledcondition;

FIG. 9 d shows a diametral half-sectional view of the carrier member ofFIG. 9 a;

FIG. 9 e shows an enlarged sectional detail of the carrier member ofFIG. 9 a;

FIG. 9 f shows a further enlarged detail of the carrier member of FIG. 9a on section ‘9 f-9 f’ of FIG. 9 e;

FIG. 10 a shows an alternate section of a closure apparatus to that ofFIGS. 6 e, 6 f, 6 g and 6 h;

FIG. 10 b shows a combination adjustment apparatus of the closureapparatus of FIG. 10 a; and

FIG. 10 c shows a detail or a retainer ring assembly of the apparatus ofFIG. 10 a;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In this description there may be reference to an enclosure having agenerally disk-like shape. Such a body may be described in terms of acylindrical polar co-ordinate system. In such a system, there may be anaxial direction, that direction being coincident with, or parallel to,an axis about which a body of rotation, such as a circular disk, may beformed. This axis may also be termed the vertical or z-axis in someinstances. A radial direction may be defined in a plane perpendicular tothe axial direction, with distances being measured away from the axis ofrotation, or employing the axis of rotation as a datum. Acircumferential direction may be taken at a constant radius from thez-axis, in a direction mutually perpendicular to the radial directionand the axial direction. Illustrations herein are not necessarily toscale, and certain features may be shown in a schematic, simplified,conceptual or exaggerated form for the purpose of facilitatingexplanation.

While reference may be made in the description to digital storage media,such as CD-ROM, DVD or other devices, the apparatus described herein maynot be limited to such uses, and may be used to enclose, and contain ina locked condition, other objects, which may include analogue datastorage media, or non-data storage object that a user may wish toenclosure in a locked or otherwise secured package.

Commencing with FIG. 1, a closure apparatus is identified generally as20. In the most general terms, apparatus 20 has a body, or shell, orhousing, container, or wall structure 22, however it may be called, thathas defined therewithin an enclosure space, or storage volume, or voidor chamber or lodgement, or cavity, or accommodation, however it may becalled, which may be identified most generally as 24, into which a usermay place, or from which a user may extract, as the case may be, anobject 26 to be stored and secured therein.

Object 26 may be any suitable object having an appropriate physicalextent for placement within accommodation 24. Depending on the size ofclosure apparatus 20, in some instances object 26 may itself have theform of a body of revolution, such as a disk or cylinder, or doughnutshaped object. In some instances object 26 may be an audio or video datastorage medium, whether of an analogue or digital nature. For example, adisk shaped enclosure might, in one circumstance, be used for carryingor securing a magnetic recording tape, whether of voice recordings ordigital backup data; in another circumstance a rare and precious pressedwax or vinyl recording, whether of 78, 45 or 33⅓ rpm variety; in anotherinstance it may contain a reel of cellulose with data carried thereon,such as motion picture film, be it 8 mm, 16 mm, or 35 mm or wider; inanother instance it may contain a CD-ROM or a DVD, or other digitalstorage medium such as a CD-R, a minidisk, a “smart card” or a MemoryStick™. An accommodation for such a device may have the form of a squatcylinder, or squat doughnut, in which the ratio or the radius or thedisk may be at least three times the thickness of the disk, and forobjects such as CD-ROMs or DVD's may be greater than 10 to 1. Such anaccommodation may be roughly 5 inches in diameter and ¼ to ½ inch thick,for example.

Closure apparatus 20 may include a bed 28 for the object to be stored,and may include locking apparatus identified generally as 30, which maybe in the nature of a mechanically operable combination lock device. Forthe purposes of this description, bed 28 may include snap detent clipsfor a CD-ROM or DVD such as a commonly found in “jewel case” boxes orDVD packages. The specific nature of the bed may vary depending on theobject to be contained in apparatus 20. Locking apparatus 30 may includea few members or features of apparatus 20, or it may includesubstantially the entire assembly.

For example, apparatus 20 may include first and second opposed wallmembers 32, and 34. When apparatus 20 is lying on a flat surface, wallmember 32 may arbitrarily be termed the top wall, and wall member 34 maybe termed the bottom or base wall. It may be understood that the sectionof FIG. 2 has been radially foreshortened, the better to permit detailsnear the hub 36 and circumferential periphery 38 of apparatus 20 to beillustrated in a larger form. In that regard, n may represent the innerradius of an annular object 26 to be stored, such as a CD-ROM or DVD,and r₂ may represent the outer radius at the most radially distantcircumference. R₃ may represent the overall radius of apparatus 20 moregenerally.

Apparatus 20 may be operable by moving wall member 32 relative to wallmember 34 through a step, or series of steps, such as may releaselocking apparatus 30 to yield access to the interior of accommodation24, thus permitting object 26 to be introduced into, or removed fromaccommodation 24. Apparatus 20 may then be closed again, and return to alocked condition.

In one embodiment, apparatus 20 may have the general form of a disk, andwall members 32 and 34 may be moved relative to each other in terms ofrotational twisting about the z-axis, being the axis or rotation ofapparatus 20, and may operate a locking mechanism that may operate in amanner similar to a combination padlock, in which one member, be it wall32, may be considered the rotor, or knob, or crank, of the padlock, andthe other member, be it wall member 34, may act as the stator, orhousing or stationary member. To that end, one or both of wall members32 and 34 may be provided with positional indicia, 40, 42 respectively,which may be located in a position at or near the outer circumferencethereof, to permit relative positioning of the one relative to theother. Indicia 40 or 42 may be a single mark, datum, or reference, orpointer on one, and an array of markings, such as may be alphabetic ornumeric as at 43, or an array on both. It is arbitrary whether thereference mark or pointer is on the rotor or the stator. In one seriesof steps, the rotor may be turned relative to the stator far enough inone direction, (be it clockwise for example) to pick up all its internalelements, and is then stopped in a first position. The rotor is thenturned in the other direction (be it counter clockwise, for example) fora full revolution, then stopped at a second location, then turned againin the first direction to a stopping point, at which time the lockcombination may then be complete, and the lock may be opened. In thistype of lock, there is no key to be lost.

Considering FIG. 2 in detail, walls 32 and 34 may have a set of matingperipheral circumferential members 44, 46, 48, respectively, which maybe seal members, that may be mutually engageable to form a closed sealabout the periphery of apparatus 20 more generally. The seal so formedmay not necessarily be airtight, but may include a captured resilientseal member 48, such as an O-ring. An interference fit or wiper seal 52may also, or alternatively, be employed. Radially inboard of this isobject 26, which may lie or rest on a seat, liner, or cushion 50 and maybe held in place by spring clips, such as a known in CD jewel cases andDVD cases, for example.

Apparatus 20 may include a first fixed member or wall, identified as astator member or outer stator ring 54 that may be fixedly mounted towall member 34 in a recess, rebate, or annular groove or shoulder suchas may be identified as 56. Outer stator ring 54 may be made in morethan one part, and glued or fastened together on assembly, as may be.Outer stator ring may include a circumferential, axially extending wallor web, 58, a first flange, leg or annular wall 60 extending radiallyinwardly therefrom adjacent wall 34, and a second flange, leg or wall 62extending radially inward from the distal end of web 58. Radially inwardof the mounting shoulder of wall 34 may be a rebate, relief, oraccommodation or recess 64, which may be annular in nature, foraccommodating a moving member in the nature of a secondary rotor member66, that may have the rough general shape of a “hat section”,particularly as seen in cross-section in FIG. 2. Secondary rotor member66 may include a radially outwardly extending wall, flange or leg, 68which may have the general shape of a ring seated in recess 64. Abiasing member 70, which may be in the nature of a Belleville spring,may be located between leg 60 and leg 66, and may serve to urge theaxially outward face of leg 66 against a friction member, which may bein the nature of a pad or liner 72 mounted to the axially inwardlyfacing surface 74 of recess 64. Pad or liner 72 may tend to providefrictional resistance to motion of secondary rotor member 66, thusdiscouraging it from moving unless compelled. In this way, whilesecondary rotor member 66 may turn, it may also tend to sit in one placeif not compelled to turn, and may have a modest amount of resistance toturning and to being dislodged.

Secondary rotor member 66 may also have an axially extending wall, 76which may extend generally cylindrically away from wall 34 from theradially inward edge of leg 68. Surmounting wall 76 may be a furtherradially inwardly extending wall, or leg, or flange, or array, such asmay be a first keyed array, 78, which may leave a central opening 82having a profile defined by the shape of array 78, for co-operation withprimary rotor member 80. Secondary rotor member 66 may have a motiontransmission stub, or shoulder, or torque transmission member, orfollower, or spline, or lug, or abutment, 84 which may be part of array78, and which may interact with a co-operating motion transmission stubor shoulder, or torque transmission member, or driver, or lug, or bossor keyway, or abutment 86, such that, when primary rotor member 80 isturned far enough, abutment 86 will encounter, and then push, abutment84, thereby driving secondary rotor member 66 to such position as itmay. When primary rotor member 80 is turned far enough in the otherdirection, it may tend to drive secondary rotor member 66 in the otherdirection. It may be noted that there is a large degree of dead motionbetween these conditions, that dead motion approaching a full turn ofprimary rotor member 80 (over 300 degrees of arc, perhaps).

Primary rotor member 80 may include a circular or annular base member 88that may seat in an accommodation 90 in wall 32, and an axiallyprotruding or extending boss, or shaft or cylinder 92 that may extendaway from wall 32 and toward wall 34. The axially inwardly distant end94 of cylinder 92 may carry a radially extending plate or disk, or keyedarray 96 that may have a profile that is co-operatively interoperablewith the profile of opening 82 of secondary rotor member 68. Forexample, keyed array 96 may have the negative profile matching thepositive profile of opening 82 such that, when aligned, the one profilemay pass through the other. Although a regular array of teeth of uniformlength may be used, with the teeth being spaced on a particular scheduleof pitch spacing such as uniquely to match the corresponding profile ata unique angular orientation of primary rotor member 80 relative tosecondary rotor member 82, in the general case, the “teeth”, or featuresof the profile, may be of irregular length, irregular pitch, andirregular breadth. They may include features having a first length and ashoulder. In one embodiment, one of either the male or female profilesmay include a single tooth, and the other may be a circular disk with asingle notch cut in it to accommodate the single tooth when aligned at aparticular angle. As noted, the representation of primary rotor member80 and secondary rotor member 66 is intended to be generic.

The general conceptual idea of the co-operatively mating sets of“teeth”, as may be, is shown in the more schematic representation ofFIGS. 3 c and 3 d. When the primary and secondary rotors are not set inthe correct position, their teeth, symbolised by 100 and 102 for primaryrotor member 80 and 104, 106 for secondary rotor member 66, whenoverlapping as seen from above, are misaligned, and so therefore cannotpass through each other, the parts being held in a captive, or closed,position as in FIG. 3 d. When the teeth are in the aligned position, inwhich each set of teeth is aligned with gaps between the other set ofteeth, as in FIG. 3 c, the two sets of teeth can pass through eachother, the parts can be disengaged, and the assembly may be moved to anunlocked, or open position.

Primary rotor member 80 may also include a central bore 110 such as mayaccommodate a biasing member 112, which may be a spring 114 which may besurmounted by a ball bearing 116 that is biased by spring 114 intocentral point contact with the bottom wall 118 of accommodation 90, andwhich may present little resistance to rotational relative movementtherebetween. Wall 34 may have a radially centric, axially inwardlyupstanding pedestal or boss or seat 120 that may support, or provide abacking for a friction member 122, such as may be a pad or liner,whether of Nylon, or graphite or other suitable material, that maypresent modest resistance to rotational motion or displacement ofprimary rotor member 80 relative to seat 120, and hence to wall 34. Thatis, the urging of biasing member 112 may tend to urge face 124 ofprimary rotor member 80 into frictional contact with friction member122, thereby tending to resist, somewhat, rotational motion ordisplacement. Primary rotor member 80 may also have a rotational motiontransmission member, such as may be a torque transmission stub,follower, or lug or abutment, identified as 126, which may be mounted toa radially outwardly facing peripheral face thereof, for co-operativeinteraction with a mating rotational motion transmission member, such asmay be a torque transmission stub, driver, lug or abutment 128 which maybe mounted to a radially inwardly facing portion of wall member 32adjacent accommodation 90. Abutments 126 and 128 may be taken tointeract in the same manner as abutments 84 and 86, such that motion ofwall 32 sufficiently far in one direction (anything exceeding a fullturn, for example, would do) will tend to pick up the follower abutment126 on the driver abutment 128. Motion in the other direction may tendto achieve the same result, with a significant dead band, possibly asmuch as about 330 degrees of rotation, between contact. The size of thisdead band depends on the relative circumferential extent of the matingabutments, and can be smaller, or much smaller than 330 degrees. Whenprimary rotor member 80 is left in one position, it may tend to staythere, given the friction members, unless urged to move by theinteraction of the abutments.

A second stator member, 130, may be fixed to wall 32 as for example in aseat or shoulder, or relief or recess 132. Stator member 130 may includea radially extending plate or leg, or ring 134 such as may tend tocapture base member 88 in accommodation 90 in a loose fit. Stator member130 may also include an axially extending wall 136 that may be generallycylindrical, and that may extend away from ring 134 toward wall 34. Atthe distant edge of wall 136, stator member 130 may have a radiallyoutwardly extending plate, leg, or flange 137 that may include an arrayof teeth, or indexing fittings 138, in like nature to those of primaryrotor member 80 and secondary rotor member 66 to yield a keyedengagement profile co-operatively operable with the mating female (ormale as may be) profile of leg 62 in the same, or an analogous manner tothat described above in the context of primary rotor member 80 andsecondary rotor member 66. It will be understood, again, that manyvariations are possible.

In terms of operation, a user may be provided with a code of numbers foroperation of apparatus 20. That code may include three numbers, or threepairs of numbers, and turning directions. The steps of operation mayinclude turning wall 32 with respect to wall 34 more than two full turnsin a first direction, and stopping at a first number of number pair ofindexing indicia 40 or 42 (or both, as may be) to place secondary rotormember 66 in a given position relative to wall 34. It may then includethe step of reversing the direction of relative rotation of walls 32 and34 for a full turn, and turning another distance to stop at a secondnumber, or pair of numbers of indexing indicia 40 or 42, (or both, asmay be) to move primary rotor 80 to a given position relative to thegiven position of secondary rotor 66. It may then include the step ofreversing direction again, and turning another distance to stop at athird number, or combination of numbers of the indexing indicia 40, 42to complete the sequence, and to leave wall 32 in a given positionrelative to wall 34 such that both sets of teeth are aligned, and wall32 may be separated from wall 34, to give access to accommodation 24,and the contents thereof, such as object 26. In that regard, the teethof leg 68 are indicated conceptually as 140 and 142 in FIGS. 3 c and 3d, and the teeth of indexing fittings 138 are identified as 144, 146.The rotor and stator portions of apparatus 20 may be identified by theplacement of markings, such as decorative markings, or advertising, ortrade-markings on the outside, generally planar faces of walls 32 and 34as shown at 148. The external markings may also include a serial numberand in one embodiment a purchaser or user of apparatus 20 may contact avendor or sender of apparatus 20 by electronic or other independentmeans to obtain a combination or code for operation of apparatus 20 onceeither payment has been made, proper identification established orauthorization to obtain access to object 26 has been established orverified, or both. That is, apparatus 20 may be used in the delivery ofconfidential or proprietary information according to the steps ofreceiving a request of order for particular information sending thatinformation encrypted, encoded or otherwise stored on object 26 and thestep of verifying the authorization of the receiver to use thatinformation whether by receipt of payment, verification ofidentification for the recipient or other form of authorization or anycombination thereof at which time the combination or code may becommunicated to the recipient.

In this apparatus, the accommodation for the object to be stored, and,in use, the object to be stored, lies within the envelope of the lockingapparatus itself, with the accommodation 24 being between the tworelatively rotatable externally graspable parts, namely walls 32 and 34which act as rotor and stator. In the case of an annular object to bestored, or an annular storage chamber, the locking apparatus also lies,in whole or in part, within the core of the annulus. The lockingapparatus, which may include wall 32, wall 34, primary rotor member 80,secondary rotor member 66, and the various tooth members thereof, may beself contained, and may rely on a combination, rather than a physical orelectronic key. An electronic key could be used in addition to aphysical combination lock as shown and described. Although some featureof apparatus 20 are illustrated as being monolithic, they may be made insections that may be glued or fastened together after assembly withother parts such that internal parts may be installed before beinglocked in place by another part or assembly of parts. The various partsmay be made from fibre-reinforced plastic resins, plastic resins moregenerally, or metals such as aluminium or steel, (which may includestainless steel) or other suitable material, as may be.

In an alternate embodiment as shown in cross section in FIG. 4, there isa closure apparatus indicated generally as 150, although it may have asomewhat greater overall outside radius, R₃. Apparatus 150 may be takenas having the same, or similar, external appearance as apparatus 20,including markings to designate, be it nominally, the rotor and thestator members, arbitrarily designated 152, 154 respectively, andexternal indexing indicia, namely items 40 and 42, as before, to permitthe relative rotational positions of the stator and rotor members to bedetermined. In the alternate embodiment of apparatus 150, object 26 mayseat in a bed 158, that may have a liner and spring clip devicesidentified generically and schematically as 156. Rotor 152 may include amain wall member 162, which may be substantially planar, and which maybe substantially circular in plan view, proceeding radially outwardlyfrom the centerline, rotor member 152 may have a depending (i.e.,axially inwardly extending) central circular wall, or boss, 164, whichmay be hollow, such as may seat in mutually nesting arrangement with anaxially inwardly extending central circular wall (which may be hollow)or boss 166 of opposed wall member 168 of stator 154. Opposed wallmember 168 may be of the same general profile as wall member 162, whichprofile may be circular. Standing radially outwardly of bed 158 is alocking mechanism, indicated generally as 170, which may be apre-assembled unit that may seat in fixed mountings in opposed recesses172 and 174 of wall members 162 and 168 respectively.

Mechanism 170 includes first and second annular stator members 176 and178 that seat in fixed position with respect to walls 162 and 168 inrecesses 172 and 174 respectively. Two rotor members 180 and 182, beingthe primary and secondary rotor members, may seat co-operatively withstator member 178. Stator member 178 may have the form of an annularmember with a channel section, the channel section having a back 184,two upstanding legs 186 and 188, and two opposed legs, or flanges 190and 192 that extend from legs 186 and 188 toward each other, leaving agap 195 therebetween. Back 184 may be in the form of an annular disk,legs 186 and 188 may have the form of inner and outer circumferentialcircular cylinders that extend from back 184. Flanges 190 and 192 mayhave the form of circular disks. Rotor members 180 and 182 may have theform of nested rings, each having a channel shaped cross-section. Thebacks of the channels 194, 196 may be placed back-to-back, with the legsextending radially away from each other. One leg 198, 200, may becaptured between back 184 and flange 190, or 192 as the case may be. Abiasing member 202, 204, such as may be in the nature of a spring, maybe inserted between flange 190 and leg 198 (or flange 192 and leg 200,as may be) to urge the annular face of the opposite side of leg 198 (or200) against an annular friction member 206, 208, which may be made of afriction material such as those described above, such that while rings180 and 182 may be turned, there is some frictional resistance toturning so that, unless intentionally impelled, they may tend to remainwhere they are. As may be noted, secondary rotor member 182 includes adriven lug, or rotational displacement member, or stub, follower, orabutment, 210 as it may be called, and primary rotor 180 has a matingrotational positioning member, lug, torque transfer member, stub, driveror abutment 212, such that, as above, if primary rotor member 180 isturned far enough (one full turn would be sufficient) then abutment 212will pick up abutment 210, and secondary rotor member 182 will becarried along by the motion of primary rotor member 180. When primaryrotor member 180 ceases movement, and moves off in the other direction,secondary rotor member 182 may tend to stay in place relative to wallmember 168. If primary rotor member 180 is turned far enough, it willpick up on the opposite side of abutment 210, as described above. Theother legs 214, 216 of the primary and secondary rotor members 180 and182, namely the legs or flanges most distant from wall 168 may haverespective keying or indexing patterns formed in then, in the samemanner, or similar, to the keying profiles of primary rotor member 80and secondary rotor member 66 described above.

Similarly, stator member 176 may also have the form of a generallyannular channel having a back 220 seated in recess 172, inner and outercircumferential legs 222 and 224, and opposed distant legs, or flanges,or keyed arrays 226, 228 that overlap legs 214 and 216 respectively, andthat have co-operable keyed, or toothed, profiles the same as, oranalogous to, those of primary and secondary rotor members 80 and 66described above.

Stator member 176 may also have a further, radially outwardly extendingflange or leg, or keyed array 230, that, like the other keyed arraysherein may have at least one indexing member, or “tooth”. A seallabyrinth may be formed near the radially outermost portion of walls 162and 168, such as shown by engaging circumferentially extending walls 232and 234, being radially spaced apart, and extending from wall 168, andcircumferential wall 236 extending from wall 162 to overlap, and to sitin the gap between, walls 232 and 234. One or more O-rings 238, 240, ora wiper seal may be provided, as noted and described above. Matingdetents 242, 244 may be provided on male and female circumferentialwalls to provide a snap-fit closure. The radially inboardcircumferential wall may have a radially inwardly extending flange, orleg, or keyed array 246, which may be co-operable with keyed array 230in the same general manner as the other keyed arrays described herein.In particular, keyed array 230 or keyed array 246 may include a singletooth, which may extend over an arc length of more than half an inch, oran angular arc of more than 20 degrees. Finally, primary rotor member180 may carry a displacement receiving member, or torque transmissionmember, or lug, or driven member, or abutment, 248, such as may bemounted to face the back of stator member 176. Stator member 176 maycarry a displacement transmitting member, or torque transmission member,or lug, or driven member, or abutment 250 that is co-operable with lug248 in a manner that may be the same as, or similar to that of abutments126 and 128.

In operation, wall 162 may be moved, such as by rotation a first angulardistance to pick up the primary and secondary rotor members on thevarious mutually engaging abutments, this distance may be a distance ofnot more than two full rotations, but further rotation may not cause anyharm. Once all of the rotor members have been picked up, rotation maystop at a first location identified on the indexing indicia. Wall 162may then be turned in the other direction, leaving secondary rotormember 182 in a given position locating secondary rotor member 182relative to wall 168. Wall member 162 may be turned a second distance,greater than a full turn, to stop at a second position according to theindexing indicia to locate primary rotor member 180 relative to wall168. Wall member 162 may then be rotated in the first direction again tostop at a third position according to the indexing indicia, therebylocating wall 162 relative to wall 168. In this condition, the varioussets of keyed arrays may be in a state of alignment, and closureapparatus 150 may be moved to an open condition in which object 26 maybe extracted from or introduced into the space, volume, cavity, recess,lodgement, or accommodation, 252, however it may be called, betweenwalls 162 and 168. In this instance, the locking mechanism lies radiallyoutward of accommodation 252.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are intended to illustrate anenclosure apparatus not dissimilar to that of closure (or enclosure)apparatus 20 or apparatus 150, in respective open (FIG. 5 a) and closed(FIG. 5 b) conditions. As may be noted, in this embodiment, enclosuremember, or assembly, 260 has opposed rotor and stator walls 262, 264,and a locking mechanism 266 of which a first portion 268 is at a centralboss location, and a second portion 270 is at a peripheral location. Thefirst portion may include primary and secondary rotor members, and thesecond portion may include the keyed array elements that are mounted infixed relationship to the first and second walls 262 and 264respectively. Alternatively, this may be reversed, such that firstportion 268 may include the keyed array elements that are mounted infixed relationship to first and second walls 262 and 264, and the secondportion 270 may include the primary and secondary rotor members, as maybe.

A further alternate enclosure assembly is shown in FIGS. 6 a to 6 h as300. Assembly 300 may have the general form of a disk, or squatcylinder, and may be used for the storage, protection, or formaintaining the security of data of, a data storage medium, be it inanalogue or digital form, be it on a wax or vinyl pressed disk, a reelof magnetic tape, or a disk such as a CD or DVD, or any of the othertypes of data storage media noted above. FIGS. 6 a and 6 b may be takenas views on arrows ‘6 a-6 a’ on FIG. 6 c looking downward, with theposition of various locking elements being superimposed the half circlesC₂, C₃, and C₄ in FIG. 6 a, and the small circle C₅ on the phantom pitchcircle in FIG. 6 b, which may represent the alignment of circles C₁, C₂,C₃, and C₄ to permit assembly 300 to be opened.

By way of a general overview, assembly 300 may have a wall structure 302defining an enclosed space, void, volume, recess, rebate, cavity,lodgement or accommodation in which to place object 26. Assembly 300 mayalso include a locking securement mechanism, which may be in the natureof a mechanically operable combination lock. That locking securementmechanism may include externally operable movable combination actuators308, 310, 312, 314, whose positions relative to the upper and lowerportions 316, 318 of the wall structure 302 may be set according toindexing indicia 320 on those actuators, be it by way of gradations 322,or a datum or reference mark, and by a reference mark 324 or gradationson wall structure 302, or both, such that unique position of the variousactuators may be determined. When those indicia are aligned in apattern, according to a given code, for example, assembly 300 may beplaced in an open position, as opposed to a locked, or closed, positionwhen those actuators are not in the aligned or coded position. Assembly300 may include an ejector operable to urge object 26 out, or partiallyout, of accommodation 304 when the assembly is in an open, or unlocked,condition. Assembly 300 may include a carrier 330, and wall structure302 may be side-opening to permit object 26 to be introduced orextracted by radial translation, rather than the predominantly axialinsertion or extraction of apparatus 20, 150 and 260 described above.Carrier 330 may be rotatable inside wall structure 302 to expose orunblock, or to conceal or obstruct a passageway or opening 332 by whichaccess may be obtained to accommodation 304 to permit introduction orremoval of object 26 as may be. This is represented in FIG. 6 b by thesolid line ejected position of object 26, as distinct from the phantomline representation, and arrow ‘A’ indicating the motion from thephantom line installed position to the solid line ejected position. Theinstalled position of object 26 is shown in FIG. 6 a as a solid line.Assembly 300 may also include a movable central locking member 422, orsleeve 334 which may move to an extended or obstructing position toengage a central opening in an annular object to be stored, thusblocking or preventing, or discouraging its removal unless the centrallocking member is moved to a non-obstructing, or retracted, position.Assembly 300 may be such that wall structure 302 serves not only todefine an enclosure for object 26, but also serves as part of the body,or part of the mechanism, of the locking apparatus.

The assembly having been described in general terms, it may beconsidered in more detail, looking first at FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 8 a, 8 b and8 c. Wall structure 302 may include first and second opposed wallmembers 336, 338. Although assembly 300 may be substantiallyasymmetrical about a central plane perpendicular to the axial direction(the z-axis), wall member 336 may be arbitrarily termed the upper wallmember, and wall member 338 may be termed the lower wall member, asthese items are shown in the illustrations. Inasmuch as assembly 300 maybe hand portable, it may be turned to face in any direction, such thatupper and lower may be reversed. A generally axially extending coremember 340 may be sandwiched between the generally planar, generallyradially extending spaced apart wall members 336 and 338 in the locationshown in the cross-section of FIG. 8 c, fixing the axial spacing of wallmembers 336 and 338. It may be noted that on manufacture, carrier member330 may be installed within two halves 342, 344 of core member 340before those halves are mated and fixed together as by bonding, gluing,welding, or attachment by suitable mechanical fittings. As installed,carrier 330 is able to be displaced angularly about the central axis,identified as centerline CL, relative to wall structure 302.

FIG. 7 a may be taken as being a representation of either wall members336 or 338 in plan view from inside, i.e., facing toward the side thatwould face inwardly into accommodation 304. There is an axiallyextending central member 346, which may be in the nature of a cylinder,and which may have an indexing feature, such as a spline or keyway, ornon-circular profile, such as might discourage a sleeve place thereonfrom rotational motion about member 346, but which might permit member346 to act as an axial path or guideway, or track.

Referring again to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, core member 340 may include firstand second axially extending flanges 354, 356 that locate radiallyinwardly of, and may be bonded to respective shoulders 350, from whichannular webs 358, 360 may extend radially outward to an axially medialperipheral, or circumferential wall 362, upon whose outer face a datum,reference mark, gradations, or other indexing indicia may be indicated,whether by adding a label or writing, or by mechanical deformation suchas engraving or embossing. Core member 340 may also havecircumferentially running, axially outwardly protruding lips or detentsor blisters 364 that may tend to act to retain rings of the lockmechanism. When assembled in this form (and, it may be noted, the ringsof the lock mechanism may be installed before the structure of FIG. 8 cis assembled) annular peripheral grooves, or channels, or reliefs, orrebates or lodgements or accommodations 366, 368 are formed in which therings of the locking mechanism may be located.

It may be noted that the view of FIG. 8 a shows an array of irregularlyspaced bores 370, which may include individual bores 372, 374, 376, 378,and so on. These bores may be located on a common pitch circle, but notnecessarily be if corresponding adjustments are made in other members ofthe assembly. There may be as few as one such bore, or as many more asmay be practicable. The bores may be in either or both of annular webs358, 360, and need not be aligned. That is, web 358 may have one patternof bores, and web 360 may have the same or a different pattern. Forconvenience bores 372, 374, are shown as being made in both webs 358 and360 in FIGS. 8 b, and 8 c for the purposes of simplifying thisexplanation and understanding of the mechanism, but this need not be thecase. In the general discussion above, reference is made to four halfcircles that are aligned to give a single circle when a combination orcode of numbers is aligned according to the external indicia. It will beunderstood that while this may apply for two aligned bores in webs 358360, in the general case there may be more than one, or more than two,such bores and half circles (or other portions of a circle, as may be)up to whatever number may be practicable. Core member 340 may also havea circumferentially extending peripheral slit, or slot, or opening,identified as 380, of sufficient width and depth to permit the ingressor egress of object 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 a to 9 e, carrier 330 may have the general formof a hollow disk, or cage, having a pair of spaced apart plates 382,384, which may have a substantially circular periphery, andcorresponding peripheral wall 386 extending axially therebetween. Plates382, 384 may be spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate object26. Similarly, while peripheral wall 386 may have a maximum radiusslightly less than the inside radius of wall 362 of core member 340, itmay be comfortably more than the maximum extent, which may be a radius,of object 26, such that the internal accommodation or lodgement, orcavity 390 of carrier 330 may accept object 26.

Carrier 330 may also have radially inward, axially extending cylindricalwalls 392, 394 that seat within shoulder 348 of core member 340,somewhat in the manner of a trunnion. Walls 392 and 394 may be of thesame diameter, but need not necessarily be so. External reinforcementsin the nature of webs 396 may extend predominantly radially away fromwalls 392 and 394 and terminate at a radius falling within the radius ofthe axially extending outer wall portions of core member 340, and mayserve to stiffen carrier 330.

Carrier 330 may have an array 400 of apertures, or recesses, orindentations, or reliefs, or inwardly formed blister cavities, orpockets, which array may include individual pockets, such as may berepresented by item numbers 402, 404, 406 and 408. It is intended thatthis representation and description be generic: there may be as few asone such pocket, or, alternatively, there may be many such pockets. Theymay be formed in either or both of plates 382, 384, and may tend to bethe same in number and distribution as the number and distribution ofbores in the array of bores formed on the same radial pitch circles, andcircumferential irregular pitches (if more than one is used) as in thearray of bores of core member 340. Each pocket may have a major portion410 formed on substantially the same spherical radius as a ball bearing412 that may seat therein (the bores of the array of bores in coremember 340 may have the same, or possibly a slightly larger radius).Each pocket may also have a minor portion 414 that has a surface 416that ascends to the planar surface at a gentle angled at an angle alpha,like a cam or wedge surface. This minor portion extends in acircumferential direction relative to plates 382 or 384, yielding ablister of a tear-drop shape, as may be, and is such that when thelocking mechanism is aligned for opening assembly 300, operation ofradially extending handle 420 will tend to move the sloped cam surfaceagainst the ball bearing, causing axial movement of the ball bearingtoward, and at least in part through, the bores of the array of bores ofcore member 340.

The central locking member 422 may have the form of a cylinder orsleeve, 334 that may have an inner cylindrical surface conforming tocentral member 346, such that locking member 422 may slide axiallythereupon, but may tend not to rotate thereabout. Sleeve 334 may have anouter cylindrical surface conforming to the radially inward surface ofaxially extending cylindrical wall 392 (if not also of wall 394) ofcarrier 330, and is able to rotate therewithin. Axial motion of sleeve334 is controlled by a guide, keyway, or follower formed therein, whichmay be in the nature of an helical groove 426 facing a spud, orprotrusion 428 of wall 392, such that angular rotation of wall 392 maytend to work protrusion 428 in groove 426, thereby tending axially todrive sleeve 334 between a obstructing and a non-obstructing positionwith respect to the central aperture of an annular disk, such as may beobject 26.

Carrier member 330 may have a circumferentially opening slot, or passage430 by which object 26 may be inserted or removed from accommodation390. Accommodation 390 may include flat side portions, or chords 432,434 (which may be parallel and opposed) spaced apart a greater distancethan the width of object 26, and which may be oriented parallel to aradial bisector of passage 430. Handle 420 may be mounted adjacent tothe leading edge of the opening of the slot of passage 430, and mayprotrude radially outwardly through the corresponding slot of coremember 340, such that handle 420 may function as an externallyaccessible actuator operable to rotate carrier 330 within wall structure302. It will be understood that as handle 420 moves to open or close theslot opening of passage 430, but aligning it with or occluding it fromthe slot opening of core member 340, sleeve 424 move in translation toclear, or to obstruct, respectively, lateral motion of object 26 alongpassage 430.

Ejector 436 may include a biasing member, such as may be in the natureof a resilient leaf, or spring 438 mounted within carrier 330 near therearward region thereof, such that the cantilevered arm of spring 438may tend to work against the back side of object 26 and urge itpredominantly in the direction of the exit of passageway 430. Oninsertion of object 26, spring 438 is flexed to a deflected, energystoring position. Upon opening of passageway 430, spring 438 releasesits sorted energy to urge object 26 outward.

The locking mechanism of assembly 300 may include a set of movable,co-operable locking mechanism members, or actuators, indicatedcollectively as 440, that may be move according to a code or combinationfor aligning their various external indexing indicia to permit ballbearings 412 to leave the blister pockets of array 400 (however manysuch pockets there may be) and thereby to permit carrier 330 to berotated with respect to core member 340, it being understood that whenball bearings 412 are partially trapped in array 400, and partiallytrapped in the bores of the array of bores of core member 340, thatrotation of carrier 330 may tend to be inhibited.

To that end actuators 440 may include a set of rings that may seat inthe peripheral circumferential accommodations defined between wallmembers 336, 338 and core member 340. There may be four locking ringassemblies, 442, 444, 446, 448. In one embodiment there may be four suchring members, with a fixed, pre-determined combination for opening thelocking mechanism. Each ring may have an outer end that is externallyvisible, and that may have indexing indicia embossed on the externalperipheral face thereof. This external face may be gripped by the user(or may be provided with a handle, or gripping features, such asknurling, to facilitate grasping, and therefore turning, by hand) Eachring may be rotated with respect to wall structure 302, and each ringmay have recesses formed therein at specific locations along theradially inner edge thereof to line up with the bores in the array ofbores in core member 340. These portions may correspond to the “halfcircles” discussed above. Since assembly 300 is symmetrical about amiddle plane perpendicular to the axial direction, only two rings willbe considered. Ring assembly 442 may have a radially inner end thatprotrudes past the center line of the pitch circle of the bore arrays.That inner end may have an axially extending flange 450 that, for mostof its circumference, block a portion of the exit of the bores of thebore array of core member 340, as shown in FIG. 6 e. Similarly, ringassembly 444 may have a radially inner end 452 that obstructs anotherportion of the exit of the bores of the array of bores of core member340, again as illustrated in FIG. 6 e. However, flange 450 may havenotches, or blind bores, or reliefs 456 formed therein that, whenpositioned according to a code or combination relative to core member340, may align with the array of bores, thus no longer obstructing theirexits, as illustrated in FIG. 6 f. Similarly, ring assembly 444 may havereliefs 458 formed in the radially inward edge thereof, that, whenpositioned according to a code or combination, align with the borearray, no longer obstructing their exits, as shown in FIG. 6 g. Thecombined relief so formed may admit the end of the ball bearings, and sorelease carrier 330, the “half circles” forming the circles describedabove. The same may be true of ring assemblies 446 and 448. It does notnecessarily matter in which order the steps of moving the various ringassemblies 442, 444, 446 or 448 occur, and in which they are moved totheir coded locations, but, in the end, when so positioned, the variousball bearings 412 may exit the array of pockets in carrier 330. When theactuator, e.g., handle 420, is moved, ball bearings 412 will be urgedinto the vacancies presented by the reliefs in ring assemblies 442, 444,446 and 448, and will remain there as the pockets in carrier 330 moveaway and a flat planar surface 460 of carrier 330 blocks the other endsof the bores of the bore array of core member 340, as illustrated inFIG. 6 h.

It may be noted that the flanges and ends of rings 442 and 444 need notbe square with the centerline of the ball bearing as shown, but couldsplit the profile of the bearing relief cavity in a non square manner,as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 10 a and 10 b, in which the end ofthe axially outer ring 462 has a scooped out relief 464, and a smoothlyradiused end 466, and the radially inward end of the axially inner ring468 has a mating, smoothly tapered or chamfered profile 470 in general,aside from the ball reliefs.

It may be that each ring assembly include an outer ring portion 472 (thepart that may be gripped by hand, for example) and an inner ring portion474. One of (a) outer periphery of portion 472; and (b) the innerperiphery of 474 has a profile having a series of pitches or lodgements476 formed therein, corresponding to the gradations of the indexingindicia of assembly 300 more generally. The other one has a mating,re-positionable engagement member, 478, which may be a protrusionoperable to seat in one or another of the lodgements. To the extent thatmember 478 may be radially resilient, so as to be able to deflect pastthe apices of the peaks between lodgements, inner ring portion 474 isvariably re-positionable relative to outer ring portion 472, thuspermitting a change in the code or combination of the device, withoutnecessarily requiring a different set of bore placements for ballbearings 412. I.e., the combination may be changed without drilling anew set of ball bearing bores and reliefs. When assembly 300 is in theopen position, the inner portion of each ring assembly will be inhibitedfrom movement by the presence of ball bearings 412 in the end reliefs.As such, appropriate torque applied to the external grip may permit achange of position of member 478 with respect to lodgements 476. It maybe that a void 480 is formed radially behind member 478, leaving a neck482 of resilient material that may flex radially to permit member 478 tomove radially in and out, and to bias member 478 into engagement with aselected one of lodgements 476.

Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail.Since changes in and or additions to the above-described best mode maybe made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of theinvention, the invention is not to be limited to those details.

1. An enclosure assembly for a digital storage medium, said enclosureassembly having: a body defining an accommodation for a digital storagemedium; a locking mechanism operable to unlock according to a mechanicalcombination; said locking mechanism being movable between a first,locked condition and a second, unlocked, condition; in said lockedcondition access to said accommodation being obstructed; in saidun-locked condition access to said accommodation being permitted; saidenclosure assembly having an axial direction, said enclosure extendingin a plane perpendicular to the axial direction; said accommodationhaving an opening through which to introduce and extract the digitalstorage medium; said opening being oriented sideways relative to saidaxial direction such that removal of the digital storage medium occurscross-wise to said axial direction; and at least a portion of saidaccommodation is enclosed within the locking mechanism.
 2. The enclosureassembly of claim 1 wherein said accommodation is disk shaped.
 3. Theenclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein said accommodation has a radiuscross-wise to the axial direction and an axial depth, and said radius isat least 3 times as great as said axial depth.
 4. The enclosure assemblyof claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a closure member movablebetween a first position obstructing removal of the digital storagemedium from the accommodation and a second position permitting removalof the digital storage medium from said accommodation, motion of saidclosure member being in a direction in the plane and across thedirection of removal of the digital storage medium, said closure memberbeing governed by said locking mechanism, and, when unlocked permittingpredominantly cross-wise removal of the digital storage medium from saidaccommodation.
 5. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 wherein saidassembly is operable to permit radial removal of objects therein.
 6. Theenclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein said body includes a graspablemovable member and a graspable stationary member, each of said movingmember and said stationary member having a periphery, and at least aportion of said accommodation lies inwardly of said respectiveperipheries of said movable member and said stationary member.
 7. Theenclosure assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking mechanism includes atleast one movable annular ring defining a rotor member, said movableannular ring being movable in a circumferential direction relative tosaid axial direction, and at least a portion of said accommodation liesradially inward of said annular ring.
 8. The enclosure assembly of claim1 wherein said assembly includes a carrier having said accommodationformed therein, said carrier being mounted within a casing, said carrierhaving a first port, said casing having a second port, and said carrierbeing movable within said casing to align said ports to give access tosaid accommodation.
 9. The enclosure assembly of claim 8 wherein saidassembly includes an ejector operable to urge objects out of saidaccommodation.
 10. The enclosure assembly of claim 8 wherein saidlocking mechanism extends about said enclosure outside of said casingand outside of said carrier.
 11. An enclosure assembly for a digitalstorage medium, said enclosure assembly having an accommodation thereinhaving a lateral extent and a through thickness, half said lateralextent being greater than said through thickness, said accommodationhaving a size for receiving the digital storage medium; said enclosurehas a movable member operable to govern access to said accommodation,said movable member being movable between a first position yieldingaccess to accommodation, and a second position obstructing access tosaid accommodation, said assembly including a mechanical lockingapparatus operable to secure said movable member in said secondposition, said mechanical locking apparatus being a manually operableapparatus, said mechanical locking apparatus being releasable accordingto a mechanical combination, and at least a portion of saidaccommodation lying inwardly of said mechanical locking apparatus, and,when said movable member is in said first position thereof, access tosaid accommodation being provided in the direction of the lateral extentsuch that the digital storage medium is introduced and removedcross-wise to the through thickness.
 12. The enclosure assembly of claim11 wherein said assembly includes a movable central boss member.
 13. Theenclosure assembly of claim 12 wherein said central boss member isaxially retractable.
 14. The enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein saidassembly is operable to permit predominantly axial removal of objectsfrom said accommodation.
 15. The enclosure assembly of claim 11 whereinsaid assembly is operable to permit radial removal of objects therein.16. The enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein said body includes agraspable rotor member and a graspable stator member, and at least aportion of said accommodation lies between said rotor member and saidstator member.
 17. The enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein saidlocking mechanism includes at least one movable annular ring defining arotor member, said movable annular ring being movable in acircumferential direction relative to said axial direction, and at leasta portion of said accommodation lies radially inward of said annularring.
 18. The enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein said assemblyincludes a carrier having said accommodation formed therein, saidcarrier being mounted within a casing, said carrier having a first port,said casing having a second port, and said carrier being movable withinsaid casing to move said first port sideways relative to said secondport in a direction cross-wise to the through thickness to align saidports to give access to said accommodation.
 19. The enclosure assemblyof claim 11 wherein said assembly includes an ejector operable to urgethe digital medium out of said accommodation.